Red Rock prepares Bilbale for trial processing

Red Rock Resources plc will begin preparations in March for trial processing at its Bilbale gold licence in Burkina Faso.

ALLUVIAL EXPLORATION

The company’s visit, deferred from this month, will also involve meeting Hong Kong partner Riverstone Resources Ltd owned by Mahendran Samuel.

The licence, acquired in January 2022, is owned by Red Rock subsidiary Faso Greenstone Resources SARL.

Red Rock’s team will include geologists and engineers from India and Africa with experience of mine development, including in Burkina Faso, as well as local staff.

“Initial work will consist of locating and setting up areas for initial trials, some trenching and benching, drilling of two bore holes, and civil works including ponds and preparation of areas for administration, fuel storage, laboratory, furnace, and security,” added the company.

“In parallel, Riverstone will deliver the machinery and equipment needed for exploration, much of which is held by them in stock, and which will be imported by air and sea with a transport time of six-eight weeks.

“This equipment should arrive at a prepared site ready to start alluvial exploration operations with the minimum of delay.”

A test programme will process alluvial material from different parts of the licence including high grade zones to establish gold grade.

Red Rock also expects to start the permitting process for bulk production and processing with initial activities focused on the exploration licence.

Both companies will discuss terms of future co-operation, taking into account results of the work about to begin.

SCALE

Chairman Andrew Bell said that the parties in the new venture were committed to building a long-term relationship.

“Our expectation is that when we leave site, there will remain behind a core team that will work together in order to move the project through the steps towards production.

“This alluvial project reflects our stated intention to move into cash flow at any of our projects where we can identify this potential.

“We and Riverstone believe it has potential to scale rapidly, and will be looking to prove that in the current phase of exploration.

“The experience of their personnel in working with alluvial deposits will we expect complement our capabilities.

“Both parties will be making contributions, and our further potential commitment in this phase is limited to £150,000 to £200,000.

“In the event of discouraging results at any stage, work on the alluvial potential will cease and Riverstone will move equipment to another project.

“We are now working with a group that is deeply committed to our success whose advice and help on other matters we have found invaluable.”